Spirituality and drumming It is said that the drum is the Shaman's horse the drum is what he or she uses to travel to a altered state of mind and time in a trance like state.As a drummer you are a journeyman you will be on musical journeys throughout your career you will be limited only by your skill and daring.There is much difference between the Master and journeyman but because you will always be a student of your craft your journey may never really finish.Buddy Rich said it best when asked if he was still learning?Buddy's response was that "you never really get it" he could have lived to be 150 years old and still been a student.Always play to try to move and inspire people in it's core this is what music is all about once you know and understand this then begin to generate income and a career with your craft.It may be difficult to believe these days but you should try to always keep music in a spiritual place in you and spread it to others no matter how far your career takes you.When Steve Gadd plays he finds a comfort zone and is in balance with himself and everything and everyone around him and I would say goes into a trance like state to create some of the greatest grooves in the history of recorded American drumming.Drums, music and language have been a part of communication in every culture on the planet for thousands of years and was always used to bringing people together for celebrations and other gatherings.These days I find musicians are only out for themselves and not willing to share ideas and skills with other musicians in their community,for they believe it is all in the name of success,(Just looking out for me man)Maybe life is just harder these days.do not fall prey to this foolishness if we Jam and share our ideas you will learn more from each other and we can all have a community of great players and great music once again.This is what I was told by the great Carmine Apiece who would jam with all drummers and musicians back in the 60'and 70's. I think that this plays a roll in the state of the music industry these days right now there are a lot of  great players with amazing technique but few are playing for the love of song or with genuine feel or swing hopefully with the major labels taking a bath we may see a new attitude unfold towards music and a new creation.For we will be saying goodbye to the shallow money making lawyers of the fat overblown industry and embracing things like internet radio and allowing true musicians to be heard.Lets keep lawyers where they belong and not dictating what music is or should be,they're lawyers for Christ sake they don't know what cool is if they did they'd be drummers.With the major labels out of the way the real musicians will be left to create music that inspires and moves them first.So don't look at the major labels gone as a bad thing the time of change has arrived gone are the days of being spoon fed by radio.So tell me what you think I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas about this subject or any other matter on drums and music.keep playing and keep giving , Mike Lattanzio